If you're an amateur filmmaker or just want to have the best videos of your kids playing in your backyard, you can build an inexpensive camera slider that can get the same types of panning or tracking shots as commercial dolly with just scrap wood, a string, and a hobby motor.

Hacked Gadgets forum user Alan Parekh created a simple method for constructing a camera slider, the heart of which uses a spare K'nex geared motor as the powerplant.

What is the best hack you've ever done to your camera equipment? Let us know in the comments below.